Laid Bear Read Online Free Page B

his eyes again. Bethany was starting to hate that particular mannerism. “You can’t blame those assholes you date because — and I’m going to say this very slowly so your pea brain can absorb it — you pick them! ” He tapped her forehead to make his point.
    “You’re blaming me for their bad behavior?!” This was incredible! Anger started welling inside her but she didn’t want to make a scene so she downed the rest of her shot and glared at Paul.
    He took a deep breath and grabbed her by the shoulders. “Darling, you need to look in the mirror. You’re fabulous. You’re beautiful. You’ve got a killer rack and an ass Kim Kardashian would kill for. Men all over town are lusting after you.”
    Bethany shook her head and looked away, not believing a word of it.
    “You’ve got all this going on, yet you settle for the shittiest of shitheads. You practically beg them to treat you badly and then are surprised when they do. It’s not that you only attract assholes, but for some reason you think those are the only guys who could possibly be attracted to you. It’s not true and you need to get over that.”
    Paul relaxed his grip and let what he’d just said soak in. Could it be true? Could he be right that her string of ‘bad luck’ with guys was really by her own doing? That was a bitter pill to swallow.  
    “Are you saying I deserved that guy calling me a fat slut?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she tried to process what he’d said.
    Paul gasped. “Is that what you heard me say? No! You didn’t deserve that, and when that guy gets out of jail, I’m going to personally kick his ass.”
    Bethany harumphed and glanced at his slight frame.
    “Well, I’ll get some friends to do it, anyway. No, B, what I’m trying to tell you is that you knew that guy was a dick when you started making out with him. You knew he treated women like pieces of shit stuck to his shoe. He’s got the worst reputation in town. So why did you fuck him?”
    She shrugged, but she knew. Deep down, she felt she didn’t deserve anyone better. And that made her feel even worse. Her pathetic love life was a product of her own making.
    Paul’s arm wrapped around her shoulders. “I’ve watched you brush off a dozen cool guys over the years because you thought they were too good to be into you. It’s a rare guy who’s going to pursue you when you put up such big walls.”
    His words rang true. Every time a friend had said some cute guy liked her, she thought they were just trying to boost her ego. But she was realizing that wasn’t the case. She’d always compared herself to her skinny friends, but she did have assets that guys liked, so maybe some good ones could be attracted to her after all.  
    Or maybe one good one in particular.
    “Take this Max character,” Paul was saying. “I haven’t seen him in action or anything, but if you think he’s flirting, then he must practically begging you to fuck him.”
    Bethany laughed. “I wish! But maybe you’re right. Maybe I need to set my sights higher. And, let me tell you, they can’t get much higher than him.” She nudged Paul and winked lasciviously.  
    She grew serious and sighed. “I dunno, Paul. Do you really think it’s possible someone like him could want someone like me? Honestly?”
    “Girl, you’re a babe. You’re a curvy, delicious hottie. About seven male heads — and one or two female heads — just about spun off their necks when you walked by. There’s one dude who can’t seem to take his eyes off you, and let me tell you, I wouldn’t kick him out of bed.” He nodded toward the back deck.
    Bethany followed his gaze and locked eyes with Max. Her throat clamped down and her pulse thumped loudly in her ears. She was already flushed from the tequila but now she must be glowing like an ember. What was he doing here?
    Paul caught her reaction and looked back and forth between them. “What…noooooo! Is that the guy?”
    She felt